Chapter three
The night was far from being good. Taylor got angry at Zoe and blamed Hannah's condition on her, Cliff, who took Zoe's side had a fight with Taylor and if it was not enough, Zoe had agonizing pains all over her body. When the morning came, all of them had black circles around their eyes and headaches. It was 5:00 AM and Zoe was lying in the hospital bed and crying. It was the worst night in her life. The fight between Taylor, Cliff and her exhausted her. She was so angry with herself and started to believe that the accident was her fault. She could end up like Sue and it scared her. Moreover, the terrible pains on her back were killing her. The nurse injected her morphine almost two hours ago and it didn't even work. She decided to try to get some sleep, but it was impossible for her to sleep while lying on her back and she couldn't turn around because of the pains, and the worry for Hannah's made her go crazy. In that condition all she could do is cry.
It was almost 6:00. Dan entered to Zoe's room and saw her crying. "Zoe, is everything ok?" he asked and took a seat next to her on the bed.
"It's just....... It's my fault, Dan." Zoe cried. Dan embraced her.
"It's not your fault. Don't blame yourself." He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. "Hannah will be ok." He whispered into her ear. They sat there, Zoe's head resting on Dan's shoulder. His fingers were caressing her sandy blond hair and her tears are wetting his sweater. "Don't worry, she'll get better." He tried to comfort her.
In 7:18, the nurse came into the room. "Your niece is awake and she wants to see you." she said. Zoe looked at Dan.
"Will you come with me?" she asked. Dan nodded. The nurse helped her move from the bed to a wheel chair and took her to Hannah's room. She opened the door and wheeled Zoe inside the room. Zoe closed her eyes, afraid of what she's going to see. She heard the door closed behind her and felt Dan's hand resting on her shoulder.
"It's ok." He whispered. She opened her eyes. Hannah was lying in a hospital bed. She had tubes all over her and wounds on her face. Zoe took her hand.
"Hi, kid." She whispered. Hannah smiled.
"Aunt Zoe, I love you." she said.
"I love you too, honey." Zoe started to cry again.
"Don't cry, Aunt Zoe." The little redhead girl said.
"I'm not crying. It's just allergy." Zoe wiped off her tears. "How are you feeling, honey?" She asked Hannah.
"Tired." Hannah answered. Zoe caressed Hannah's red hair. "Aunt Zoe, is that how mom felt when her car crashed?" Hannah asked.
"I don't know, kid. I don't know." Zoe answered. Zoe sat next to Hannah until Hannah fell asleep. "Dan," she whispered. He came closer to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"What can I do for you?" he asked.
"It's just....... Look at her. I can't see her like this." The tears fell on her face. "I feel so guilty," she said. "I can't do anything for her......." Dan embraced her. He couldn't believe that the strong woman Zoe was at work, faded away and was now a shadow of her former self.
"Why don't you consider the doctor's suggestions. Maybe Cliff or Taylor can donate half of their liver." Dan said.
"I'm afraid. I don't want to put them in danger too." Zoe said.
"Zoe, do you want these kids to think they had a chance to save their sister and they didn't do it?" Dan asked.
"I don't even know if their blood types are matching Hannah's." Zoe said.
"Ask the doctor to check it. Zoe, you always say that these kids have been through enough. Think what would happen to your family if Hannah would die." Dan said.
"And if their blood types are not matching Hannah's, how do you think they would feel then?" Zoe asked.
"Zoe, maybe I don't know you good enough, but I thought that you believe in taking chances." Dan said.
"Yes, but not on people's lives!" Zoe said.
"I thought you'll do anything to save Hannah." Dan said.
"It's enough that Hannah got hurt, I can't take a chance on their lives." Zoe said.
"You can at least ask the doctor to do a blood test and check if their blood type is matching Hannah's." Dan said.
Few hours later, when Zoe came back to her room, she found Marcos there. "Hi, how are you?" he asked.
"I'll be ok." Zoe said.
"And Hannah?" he asked.
"Not so good." Zoe looked as she's going to cry.
"Is there nothing the doctors can do for her?" He asked.
"There's one possibility that makes sense," Zoe said.
"And what is this possibility?" Marcos asked.
"If Taylor's or Cliff's blood types are matching Hannah's, one of them can donate half of his liver to her." Zoe said.
"And?" Marcos asked.
"I don't want one of them to get hurt. I just can't let it happen again." Zoe said.
"Why don't you ask them?" Marcos asked.
"And what do you think they would say?" Zoe was sarcastic.
"Is this the only way to save Hannah?" he asked. Zoe nodded. "Well, I think you should do it." Marcos said. "I......." Marcos stopped her. "Zoe, I know you would do anything to save Hannah. Talk to Cliff and Taylor, tell them what the risks are and ask them to think as adults. You'll be surprised." He said.
Zoe decided to do what Marcos said. Maybe the kids are able to think as adults. In the evening, when they came with Dan to take her home from the hospital, she brought up the subject. Taylor said that she does not mind to do a blood test and so does Cliff. "I want to be sure if my blood type is matching Hannah's before I'll decide." Taylor said. Marcos was right. The kids were able to think as adults. In the next day, when they came to visit Hannah, Zoe asked the doctor to take blood samples from the kids. It turned out that Cliff's blood type is matching Hannah's blood type.
"Cliff, I want you to talk with Taylor about this and decide together with her what you want to do." Zoe told him when she got the results.
"I will, Aunt Zoe." Cliff said. In the next day, it turned out that Taylor does not agree with Cliff in the donation subject. She said she doesn't want him to get hurt too and that he should think of the risks of the surgery. This situation made Zoe confused. She knew that if they won't found solution soon, Hannah will die. Her condition started to get worse and Zoe was very worried. In the next evening, Zoe asked the kids to decide what they want to do. "I know that you have an argument, but for Hannah, you have to decide now." She told them.
"Aunt Zoe, I want to take the risk and give half of my liver to Hannah. I understand that it's risking my life, but if I'm Hannah's last hope, I want to do it. I know that you and Taylor are against it, but if she'll die, I'll feel useless." He had tears in his eyes. Zoe cried too. He was such a brave little guy, always so devoted to his family, never thinking about himself. Zoe adored him for that.
"Are you sure that's what you really want?" she asked.
"Yes, Aunt Zoe." He said.
"Ok, thank you, kid." Zoe said and embraced him. Taylor looked at them. She started to cry uncontrollably. She couldn't believe that Zoe just said yes to Cliff's crazy idea. She knew she wouldn't be able to live if something will happen to him. Zoe then left Cliff and embraced Taylor. "Everything will be ok." She whispered into her ear.